Running: Thanksgiving races a feast for all

Thanksgiving and high school football — they always have seemed to wind up in the same sentence when thinking about the fourth Thursday morning of November.

More and more, though, Thanksgiving and road racing (note the ring to it with poetic meter and internal alliteration) have increased the effectiveness of their word association in recent years. More races are cropping up, and more are taking part in these events.

Now, many of these road races try to go off as early as possible so finishers can head to their favorite high school football game afterward. (Realistically, they are only able to catch the second half). Yet there’s now so much fun to be had at these road races that it’s tough to pull yourself away just to see another romp in a lopsided rivalry (in many cases).

No exception to this in Clinton is the Philip J. Weihn Turkey Chase 5K, which is running for the 12th time at 8 a.m. Nov. 22, from St. John’s gymnasium at 149 Chestnut St. In fact, race director Jim Prendergast promised quick-in, quick-out, even with awards and raffle prizes.

“We’ll get you out of the gym before 9 a.m.,” he vowed.

The course, modified from much of the Tribute Road Race route that is run in May, remains the same as it was when some 75 runners took part in the maiden voyage in 2001. Much has happened since — timing advanced to bar coding, then to chip a couple of years ago — and the field kept increasing, to the 200-300 range, to today when the field will be capped at 500 runners, with unlimited walkers invited. There were about 475 runners last year.

Prendergast said each registered runner and walker will receive a commemorative T-shirt. “This is not just a race, but an experience for people to want to come back,” he said. “There’s a lot of competition but it’s more than that. It’s an event, and we want to make it a tradition for people’s Thanksgivings.”

The event benefits the Philip J. Weihn Youth Foundation, which benefits programs in Clinton and surrounding communities — from youth activities to municipal libraries to fuel assistance. Over the past dozen years, the Turkey Chase has raised more than $60,000. It brought in about $8,000 last year.

The foundation honors Weihn, a childhood friend of Prendergast who died of cancer in 1987 at age 21.

When the foundation was created soon after Weihn’s death, the committee recognized his passion for basketball while organizing a three-on-three tournament as a fundraiser.

While the tournament was a success in those years, it was a lot of work and many of the organizers were relocating to other regions, so the three-on-three was discontinued. By 2001, Prendergast and others started thinking, “Let’s do something again,” and the Turkey Chase was born. Mike Friedrich, a childhood friend of Weihn and Prendergast, comes in from Chicago every year to help.

Remember, the running field is capped at 500, and there is no race-day registration. For more details, visit turkeychase.org.

A Banner event

Worcester’s Thanksgiving Charity Fun Run also began about a dozen years ago as an informal jog with friends originating from Stoney O’Brien’s, and it is now a popular gathering at The Banner restaurant on Green Street. The event, over a flat, fast 3.1-mile course, remains self-timed and without a set entry fee, but the field keeps increasing by the year and leaves everyone with a great feeling while heading off to dinner. “People want to help and appreciate if you give them a way to do that,” said race director Paul Jarvey , a former longtime Telegram & Gazette scribe and editor. “I’ve learned that people want to be generous but sometimes don’t know how to do it.”

All that is required to enter the Thanksgiving Charity Fun Run is a donation, big or small. Proceeds benefit Friendly House and the McInerney-Zona Children’s Fund.

Three years ago, McInerney-Zona became a charity of the event, following the passing of Mary McInerney-Zona, the mother of young children Dillon and Keeley. Last year’s event carried on with heavy hearts after Bobby Zona, Mary’s husband of 13 years and father of Dillon and Keeley, also died of cancer, the day before Thanksgiving.

“That sort of cast a pall over the event last year,” Jarvey said. “The need to raise money now has become even greater.”

The event blossomed to 175 runners and walkers last year, raising $5,200 for the charities. “It really adds to everyone’s Thanksgiving, and we all have a good time doing it,” Jarvey said.

Race time on Thanksgiving is 9:30, so there is the chance to catch much of the St. Peter-Marian/St. John’s game at Fitton Field, but it’s tough to leave when having a good time.

“I still believe the Banner is the most festive place in America on Thanksgiving morning,” Jarvey said. “We’ve had a fine runner dressed in a turkey costume pushing a child in a stroller; we’ve had a bare-chested runner passing by with an American flag. It’s a very festive atmosphere.

“And you see many hanging around afterward, some enjoying a beer afterward before joining the family for dinner. It’s just a good time, and often with the kids.”

The more powerful promotions for the Thanksgiving Charity Fun Run have been via word of mouth, with Facebook and emails coming into play in recent years. Yet despite the increase in numbers and, in turn, generosity, the run remains an informal, intimate event.

“We also get lots of donations from those who don’t run,” Jarvey added. “You can donate to either or both charities.”

The Banner will host a preregistration, which is highly encouraged, starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, two nights before, along with the race-day signup at 8 a.m.

Jarvey is also welcoming volunteers to help with race operations. For more information about volunteering or donations, email Jarvey at pjarvey@charter.net.

Whether it be 5 miles or 5 kilometers, there’s plenty of action on the Central Mass. roads surrounding Thanksgiving. The 5-mile Slattery’s Turkey Trot in Fitchburg remains on the Sunday before, then no fewer than nine races begin between 8 and 9:30 on Thanksgiving morning.

One feature on Nov. 25, the Saturday after, is the Tough Ten Mile Turkey Trot at Ghiloni Park in Marlboro. Here, there’s another worthy entry fee — 10 canned goods for the homeless.

UMass Medical School is recruiting eight runners to represent the UMass ALS Champion Fund at next April’s Boston Marathon. Athletes would be called on to raise at least $6,000 each, which would go toward groundbreaking amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research being conducted at UMass Medical School.

This is the ALS Champion Fund’s second year in the marathon’s charity program, which allots official race numbers to runners committing to fundraising.

The fund was launched with the assistance of former Gov. Paul Cellucci, who is living with the disease. Last year’s Boston Marathon team raised more than $80,000 for ALS research.

Anyone interested should visit umassmed.edu/UMassALS_BostonMarathon.aspx for an application. Deadline for applications is Nov. 30.

For more information, contact Katie Friend at the UMass Medical development office at Katie.Friend@umassmed.edu.